Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / Genesis

Genesis 12:1 04/28/02

Intro: Rev. Bratcher tells the story of a man in a local church who was convinced  that God told him to sell his business and his property and give the money to the church. He was convinced that God was going to use the money in that church to do great things for the Lord and that God would richly bless him for his generosity. So, he sold his business and his house and gave all the money to the church.

 The problem was that the pastor of the church at that time was not spiritually stable and in less than a year he was caught in moral problems, the church split and struggled even to survive. Now the person was broke and had to get a job in a store to make ends meet. Yet, he had been convinced from the very beginning that God had told him to do this.

 The question running in many of your minds is, where is the line drawn between stupidity and faith and how do we figure that out?

 One of the problems for the man who sold all, is that he didn't seek godly counsel; he didn't ask anyone to pray with him about this decision, he didn't ask anyone's advice concerning the discernment of God's voice. He had some faulty theology and it led to confused thinking. So he because he was being so generous to the church, he believed it was God's will and that God would richly bless him.

 How can we know God's voice? How can we be sure of God's will? That is another study which will be looked into this Summer when we begin a 12 week discipleship series called 'Experiencing God: Knowing and doing the will of God in your life.'

 Today and for the next few weeks as we look at the life of Abram, I want to examine the issue of God's call and our response of faith and obedience.

 But first, back to the man who gave it all away. As unwise as his actions were, he can't be faulted for his faith. Because he was willing to risk everything on what he believed to be the will of God.

 The tough question is, ' how many of us would even consider that kind of radical obedience, should we be convinced God was calling us to do something risky with our lives?'  Or would we do everything we could to convince ourselves that either it was not God's will or that we can do the same thing without the risk?

 We don't like risks, even spiritual ones. We talk about laying our all on the altar of God. We know all the Christian catch words like; surrender, obedience, commitment, giving our all, and sacrifice. But when it comes down to where the rubber meets the road, many Christians are not willing to take the risk and step out on faith.

 We pride ourselves as being 'conservative'. Yet the word 'conserve' means to maintain things the way they are, to maintain the status quo.  Sometimes in our conservative traditions we are afraid to risk everything...even anything for the promises of God. Yet, it is when we are willing to risk it all, that we know that it is all of God and not of ourselves.

 I am not talking of a call to stupidity and blindly going where we think, maybe, God is leading without any spiritual discernment. But when God calls, when God makes a promise in His Word, I want to assure you that the journey is worth the risk.

Read: Genesis 12:1a

 A number of questions pop up after reading this verse.  'Where was Abram when God called him?',  Was Abram totally obedient in responding to God's call?' 'Was Abram searching for God? and 'Why Abram? Why did God choose Abram?'. I hope to try to answer these questions this morning.

FIRST: 'Where was Abram when God called him?'

 From 11:31 and 12:1 it seems he was called while in Haran after his father Terah died. But that is problematic because  Stephen in Acts 7:2 says that Abram received his call in Ur.

 It might help to know that 12:1-3 is parenthetical. That means it is not chronological.
 What happens in 12:1-3 predates Abrams journey to Heran in 11:31-32. So Abram receives his call from God and then travels to Haran with his family.

SECOND: But that begs the second question. 'Was Abram totally obedient in responding to God's call?' No, not right away. God told him to leave his country..ok, his people, ok and his family...uh oh..Abram took his family with him.

 But that should not discourage us as Abram's life was a journey of faith. And sometimes on that journey he walked tall, other times he stumbled and fell. But he always got up again and continued to walk with God.

 Abram's first test of obedience to the call of God was a partial failure for two reasons.

1. He was not willing to risk it all for God's promises. How do we know? Because he took his family with him (particularly his father and other relatives). Just so there is no misunderstanding, he was supposed to take his wife.

2. He settled in Haran. That was not part of God's plan.

 Abram, at the time of his call, had real faith but it was weak. As seen in his taking his whole family possibly for strength and support. And if we are honest, that is often where we find ourselves when we hear God's call to act.

 In our best moments our faith is vibrant and vital, but in moments of testing, it is often found to be weak. And we often seek strength and support in other places rather than in God.

 But Abram grew in his faith, and that is a lesson for us to learn. We too will see our faith grow with each step of obedience to God's Will and Word.

THIRD: The next question is  'Was Abram searching for God, was he a seeker?

 Well what do we know about life in Ur and Abram's family?

 We know from Joshua 24:2-3 that Abram's father Terah was an idolater like all those who lived in Ur. Joshua tells us that Terah worshipped false gods. Family worship was significant in those days and it is easily assumed that Abram also was an idol worshipper when he lived in Ur.

 'Was Abram searching for God, was he a seeker?' Theologically, the bigger question is 'Is anyone truly a seeker of God, by their own desire?'

John 15:16 says 'You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.'

Psalm 53:1-3 The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice; There is no one who does good. God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men, To see if there is anyone who understands Who seeks after God. Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.'

 No, Abram was not searching for God. In fact there is no indication from Scripture that he had any awareness of the One True God. It was God Himself, who initiated contact with Abram.

FOURTH: 'Then why did God call Abram?'

 The late pastor and bible expositor James Boice says this about God's call to Abram.

 'There is nothing in Abram himself that commended him to God. God does not look down from heaven to find a person who has a bit of saving faith or a bit of righteousness and then say 'Oh, isn't this wonderful! I've found someone with a little bit of true faith! That makes it possible for me to save him. I think I will'

 The truth is when God looks down from heaven looks at the life of the unbeliever, all unbelievers, all he sees is sinfulness. Remember

Gen. 6:5  says that every inclination of the thoughts of his (mankinds) heart was only evil all the time.

Rom. 3:23 that says 'All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.'

Isa. 64:6 'All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags'.

 Abram was an idolator, he worshipped false gods with his family in Ur a city of idol worshippers. It is this Abram that God called and chose to become the father of many nations, even the ancestor of Christ.

 Boice continues 'God did not say, here is a man with some faith, I will be able to use him to bless the nations. God saw that there was nothing in Abram that could possibly make him the object of God's favor, just as there is nothing in us that can commend us to God either. But that is the good news. Just as God used Abram who had nothing to offer to God, God uses us, who also have nothing to offer Him.'

 'Why did God call Abram?' God might have said, 'I am going to save this man. He has done nothing nor could he ever do anything that would merit my choice but I am going to save him anyway. And I am going to bless him so that millions of those who will be in heaven one day will trace their spiritual ancestry to him.'

 If God can save an idol worshipper then He can save you, no matter what you spiritual condition may be.
 And if God can call and use an idol worshipper, just think what is possible through people, already saved by the blood of Christ, who are willing to risk it all,  for the promises and glory of God!

Conclusion
 In just one verse we are beginning to see the true nature of Christian faith and Christian life. And we see it all the way back here in history, in the book of Genesis. Three truths beg to be heard.

1. Every Christian, everyone who is saved, begins with the call of God.

 Abram was an idolater. He didn't know God nor did he love God and he had no future hope to ever know or love God. What changed this man so completely was the call of God upon his heart.

 It was God's touch of grace that opened Abram's eyes to faith. It was God's sovereign healing hand that brought life to Abram dead spirit.

 Whether you have been a Christian all your life or you have heard God's voice only recently, the Christian life begins and continues, day by day, with God speaking to us and we obediently responding to Him in faith. That is why it is essential that we never stop listening for God's voice.

2. Once you hear the call of God you will never be the same.

 Abram was an idolater, he had no knowledge of the One True God. Everyone around him in his family and city worshipped false gods. But that is not where Abram stayed.

 And so it is for all whom God calls. God will not leave you where and how he found you. He desires to do through you things you never thought possible. Think about it, many of you here this morning are doing things for God you never imaged, all because you heard and responded to the call of God in your life.
 
 So don't be surprised Christian when God turns your world upside down. Don't be surprise or upset when you leave behind much of what you once thought important in life to risk it all for the promises and presence of God.  God called you, and you will never be the same.

3.  God's call is to a future that is often unseen.

 God tells Abram to leave his country, his people and his family and to go to a place that he will show him. That's it. No map, no GPS, no details. Just go!

 Abram went not knowing where,
 To do what he didn't know,
 To receive a promise that seemed impossible to fulfill.

But off he goes. Scripture calls that FAITH. And from the beginning to the end of the Christian life, that is what God requires from His children...FAITH. Being risk takers for God's promises and ultimately for God's glory.

 Abram couldn't see what was ahead of him in his journey of faith. But he knew he was taking a great risk.

Was it stupidity that caused him to risk everything and move his family from Ur to Haran?

 Was it stupidity that caused him to leave Haran when Terah died and risk everything to travel to the unknown country placed before him?

 Is it stupid to take such risks? No,

        not when God has called you,

        not when God has touched your heart,

        not when God has given you great promises of his presence and help.

 It is not stupidity...it's faith.

 May God motivate us by His Holy Spirit to be sensitive to His call and bold in risking our comfort for God's call...
 May we truly be men and women of faith, living, faith in the Almighty, Everliving, Sovereign and Loving God.